Atherectomy cutter with arcuate blades

Abstract

An over-the-wire atherectomy cutter includes a hollow cylindrical sleeve which is coaxially attached at its proximal end to a hollow rotatable catheter. The periphery of the distal end of the sleeve is sharpened. A hollow, substantially cylindrical body is coaxially positioned within the sleeve in an interference fit. A frustum-shaped portion is formed on the distal end of the body and tapers inwardly toward a hollow cylindrical distal tip. The frustum-shaped portion has two openings which extend the axial length of the frustum-shaped portion, to create a pair of straight blades that connect the body to the tip. The straight blades are contiguous to the sharpened distal end of the sleeve to establish a pair of diametrically opposed arcuate cutting edges that are positioned on the distal end of sleeve.

I claim: 
     
       1. An atherectomy cutter which comprises: a hollow cylindrical sleeve defining a longitudinal axis and having a sharpened distal edge;   a pair of straight blades each said straight blade extending distally from said distal edge of said sleeve and angled from said distal edge toward said axis to establish a pair of arcuate blades, on said distal edge between said straight blades; and   a hollow cylindrical body having a proximal end and a distal end, said straight blades being attached to said distal end of said body, said body being held within said sleeve an interference fit therewith.   
     
     
       2. An atherectomy cutter as recited in claim 1 wherein said sleeve has a first diameter, and said cutter further comprises a hollow cylindrical tip having a second diameter smaller than said first diameter, said tip having a proximal end attached to said straight blades, said tip being coaxial with said sleeve. 
     
     
       3. An atherectomy cutter as recited in claim 1 wherein said straight blades are diametrically opposed. 
     
     
       4. An atherectomy cutter as recited in claim 1 wherein said arcuate blades are diametrically opposed. 
     
     
       5. An atherectomy cutter as recited in claim 1 wherein said sleeve has a proximal end and said cutter further includes an elongated hollow catheter attached to said proximal end of said sleeve, said catheter defining a lumen, said lumen being in fluid communication with the lumen of said hollow sleeve.